Locking mechanism for drawers



1929- G. ANDERSON ET AL 1,730,909

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Filed Jan; 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1929.G. ANDERSON ET AL 1,730,909

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Filed Jan. 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IlaOct. 8, 1929. c. ANDERSON ET AL.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS 5 SheetS-Sheet Filed Jan. 9, 1926 z CMPatented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE ANlDERSON AND VICTOR A, GRONBERG, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNORS TO ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORKLOOKING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS Application filed January 9, 1926. SerialNo. 80,314.

This invention relates to locking mechanisms for the movable drawers orelements of desks and analogous articles of furniture, in whichapluralit-y of movable drawers or elements to be locked are disposed,for exam ple, in different vertical tiers or in laterally differentpositions, the mechanism being of that character in which, by theactuation of a single operating bar or other member, all or several ofthe drawers or elements are locked and all are released, so that theymay be opened or moved by unlocking a single lock.

Locking mechanisms of various different constructions for such purposeshave been proposed, and many different mechanisms have been made andused, but the locking mechanisms as heretofore designed for the purposeare not entirely satisfactory from one standpoint or another. While someof these previous mechanisms have more or less successfully accomplishedthe intended purpose, they are complicated and composed of many partswhich are diflicult or troublesome to assemble, thus unduly increasingthe cost of the mechanisms. Some of the previous constructions, whileoperating to securely lock the movable drawers or members, are'sodesigned that they do not operate freely and smoothly, and considerableeffort is required to actuate the mechanisms to lock and release thedrawers, thus making them objectionable from a practical standpoint.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to produce a mechanismfor locking drawers or other movable elements disposed in differentvertical tiers, at different elevations, or different lateral or otherdispositions, which is of simple and comparatively inexpensiveconstruction and composed of the minimum number of parts, which can bereadily made, assembled and installed in the desk or other article, andwhich at the same time will insure ease of operation of the mechanismfor locking and releasing the drawers or elements. Other objects of theinvention are to design the mechanism so that it is more or lessflexible and adapted to be readily modified as may be necessary to suitdifferent arrangements or dispositions of the drawers or elements, andalso to improve lockin mechanisms of the sort mentioned in the ot ierrespects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. 3

In the accompanying drawings, the locking mechanism is shown as appliedto a desk of that type which is provided with drawers in vertical tiersin the pedestals at opposite ends of the desk, and also with a movabletypewriter cover or top section between the deskpedestals for moving atypewriter or analo gous machine to and from an operative position andenclosing and protecting the same when not in use. The invention is alsoillustrated in connection with a roll top desk in which the curtain isemployed as the actuat-. ing member for the locking mechanism. It willbe apparent, however, that the locking mechanism is such that with butslight and obvious modifications it can be readily adapted for deskshaving drawers in one or more pedestals and also over the knee spacebetween the pedestals, or other dispositions of the drawers or elements,and for analogous articles having a plurality of movable drawers orelements requiring to be locked.

'In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation on a reduced scale, of a typewriter deskprovided with locking mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central, sectional elevation thereof. a

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale on line 3+3, Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 4-4, Fig3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional plan showing the mechanism adaptedfor locking a central drawer between the pedestals.

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar enlarged, transverse, sectional elevations ofthe locking mechanism on line 66, Fig. 3, showing re spectively thelocked and released position of the parts.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 88, Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragn'ientary section similar to Fi 6, showing the lockingbolt for the typewriter cover' in position about to lock the cover.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional elevation of the lockingmechanism on line 1o-10, Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a similar section thereof on line 11-11, Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation 12-12, Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation on line 13-13, Fig. 12.

Fig. 1a is an enlarged, sectional detail of the locl 'ng mechanism online 14.14, Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevation showing a modification inwhich one of the drawers is utilized as the operating member foractuating the mechanism to lock the remaining drawers.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view of the lower portion of aroll top desk illustrating the use of the roll curtain for actuating thedrawer-locking mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof online 1717 Fig. 16, showing the parts in unlocked position.

Fig. 18 is a similar figure showing the parts in locked position.

A metal desk is shown in the drawings having pedestals a, b at oppositeends separated by a knee space 0 adapted to house a typewriter or othermachine. Three drawers (Z are shown in a vertical tier in the left handpedestal a and two drawers d, one above the other, are shown in theright hand pedestal, while in the space between the pedestals is shown amovable support 6 for a typewriting or other machine, and a cover fwhich is adapted to move to and from the horizontal position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, in which it forms the middle section of the desk top andoverlies the machine support 6. The cover 7 is movable rearwardly anddownwardly into the desk for uncovering and raising the supnort 6 withthe machine thereon to position for operating the machine, the coverbeing on line connected to the machine support 6 by usual means, notshown, whereby the machine support is actuated by the movement of thecover The several drawers (Z in the two pedestals and the cover or topsection 7 between the pedestals are all adapted to be locked by thelocking mechanism hereinafter described.

20 represents a horizontal rock shaft which extends in a direction fromend to end of the desk, or transversely thereof and of the verticalplanes in which the drawers or elements to be locked move. This shaft isconnected by a rock arm 21 to a push rod 22 which extends forwardly fromthe rock shaft with its front end or extremity projecting through andguided in an opening in the front of the desk so that the rod can bepushed inwardly to oscillate the rock shaft. The rock shaft is alsoconnected by rock arms 2% to vertical keeper or locking bars 25.Preferably, the

.rock arms are pivoted directly to the push rod and locking bars. Asuitable spring", preferably a spring wire 23, coiled about the rockshaft with its ends hooked over the arm 21 and the shaft bearing 26,tends to lower the locking bars and move the push rod forwardly. Thereis one of these vertical looking bars for each vertical tier of drawers,ach bar being arranged in rear of or adjacent to a tier of drawers so asto engage latches connected to the'several drawers in the tier. Twolocking bars 25 are shown, one for the drawers in each pedestal of thedesk, but it will be manifest that if more than two tiers of drawers orelements to be locked are employed, it is only necessary to add anadditional bar 25 with its connected rock arm for each additional tierof elements, and further, that the rock shaftis adapted to besin'iilarly equipped with a rock arm and latch: engaging member for oneor more drawers or eiements arranged between the pedestals.

The rock shaft 20 is preferably join-nailed in bearing brackets 26,which as shown, consist of angle-shaped metal plates welded or otherwisesuitably secured to the vertical, inner side walls 27 of the pedestals.Supplemental angle-shaped, metal bearing plates 28 are welded orotherwise rigidly secured to the bearing brackets 26, and are providedwith holes in which the extremities of the rock shaft bear and areadapted to turn. lflach of the rock arms 21 and 2d preferably consistsof a metal stamping and is secured to the rock shaft as shown in Figs.10 to 12,

by slotting the arm at 29 so as to straddle the shaft with the edges ofthe slot 29 fitting in a a pair of narrow, transverse saw kerfs or slots30 formed in opposite sides of the shaft. The slots in the arm and shaftare made so as to cause a tight lit of the shaft in the slot 29 and ofthe bifurcated portion of the arm in the saw kerfs. T he parts have adriving fit or, if desired, the parts can be pinched or upset slightlyso as to prevent disengagement of the arm from the shaft. This manner ofattaching the rock arms to the shaft provides a very simple andinexpensive connection between the parts, which is nevertheless veryrigid and secure and prevents the arms from turning or shifting axiallyon the shaft.

As shown, the rock arms 2% for the locking bars are located close to theinner faces of the supplemental bearing plates 28, and the rock arm 21is located at the outer face of the vertical portion of the bearingbracket 26 so that the rock arms thus serve to prevent axial shifting ordisplacement of the rock shaft in its bearings.

Each of the vertical locking bars 25, which are preferably angle bars,extends through and is adapted to slide vertically in guide holes 31 inthe horizontal portion of one of the bearing brackets 26, and in avertical bracket 32 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner pelestal wall at the lower portion of the locking bar, see Fig. 4. A latchor catch 33, see Figs. 4 and 10, is attached to each of the drawers andis adapted to interlockwith a portion of the locking bar for locking thedrawer. As shown, each latch is pivoted to a flanged bar 34 fixed to andextending rearwardly from one of the drawers, and the latch is adaptedto enter a hole 35 in the front flange of the locking bar, the latchhaving in its underside a notch 36 adapted to engage the lower edge ofthe hole 35 to lock the drawer. Preferably, the latch is held yieldinglydown against the lower flange of the bar 34 by a spring 37 secured in ahole in the latch pivot and having a bent end hooked over the free endof the latch. Figs. 3 and 4: show the unlatched or released position ofthe parts, and Figs. 10 and 13 show respectively by full and brokenlines, the released and locked position of the parts, It will thus beseen that when the operating push rod 22 is in the forward positionshown, with its front end'projecting outwardly from the front face ofthe disk, the locking bars will be in their lowermost position, and thelatches 33 are adapted to move freely hori llontally into and out of theholes 35 in the locking bars. When the drawers are closed, the notches36 in the latches will be in the vertical plane of the slotted frontflange of the locking bars, and if the push rod 22 is then shovedinwardly, the locking bars will be lifted, thereby interlocking theedges of the holes of the locking bars with thenotched latches and thussecuring or looking the drawers. The rear ends of the latches arebevelled, as shown, and if a drawer should be pushed in or closed whenthe locking bar for the same is in its upper locking position, the latchof said drawer will ride upwardly over the lower edge of its hole 35 andthe latch spring will throw the latch into holding engagement with thelocking bar when the drawer is fully closed, so that the drawers 7 willalways be locked when moved inwardly to their closed position,notwithstanding that the locking bars or locking mechanism may have beenpreviously moved to locking position. i

In the case of a desk which has a central drawer instead of thetypewriter cover f over the knee space or between the pedestals,represented in Fig. 5, in which 9 indicates the drawer, then anotherrock arm 24, Fig. 5, similar to the rock arms 24, is

secured to the rock shaft 20 between the pedestals, and a locking member25 attached to the arm is adapted to engage a latch 33 carried by thedrawer g for locking the latter. lVhen there is only one central drawerg which is usually the case, a vertical lockin bar, such as the bars 25,is not necessary, and the locking member 25 can be formed by a simplecross piece fixed to the arm 24 as shown in Fig. 5. It will be apparent,however, that a central tier of drawers between the pedestals could belocked simply by connecting another locking bar 25 to the rock arm 24?,for engagement with latches carried by each of the several drawers ofthe central tier. As shown in Fig. 3, the rock shaft 20 is provided withnotches 30 for the attachment of thearm 24 so that the arm 24 can beused when the mechanism is to be applied to a desk having a centraldrawer, or omitted when the mechanism is used on desks having no centraldrawer, In like manner, the mechanism can be readily adapted for desksin which the drawers are differently located,

simply by providing the rock arms and lock-.

mg bars or members at appropriate points along the rock shaft 20. I

For a desk having a movable typewriter cover or top section 7", which isthe type shown in the drawings except in Fig. 5, a spring actuated boltor latch L0 is preferably provided, arranged at one side of the frontend of the cover for locking the cover in closed position. As shown, thebolt is adapted to enter a slot 41 in the adjacent vertical edge of thecover 7. This bolt is preferably slidably mounted in the inner, frontpedestal leg of the desk just above the front portion of the push rod 22and at right angles thereto. Both the push rod 22, which operates thelocking mechanism for the pedestal drawers, and the bolt for locking thecover are locked or secured in looking position by the samelockcontrolling mechanism, which, in the preferred construction, willnow be described, see particularly Figs. (3-D.

43 represents a key actuated lock of any desired type, such for instanceas a Yale barrel lock. This lock is secured to the horizontal bottom ofa metal support or frame t l which is stationarily secured by means, notshown, in the front pedestal leg, with the front end of the lock, inwhich the keyhole is located, expose d through a hole 415 in the frontwall of the leg, so as to permit the insertion of the key into thekeyhole. The lock is provided at its rear end with a cam or arm 46 whichThis cam 4-6 engages a forwardly projecting lug on a vertical lockingplate l? arranged.

lull

to slide vertically against the vertical back I of the support M. Thislocking plate is guided by a tongue or projection 4-8 at its lower endpassing through a guide hole in the bottom of the support it and by alog projecting inwardly from the upper portion of a side vertical flangeof the support 44:. The locking plate f? has an opening 50 through whichthe push rod 22 passes and the latter has in its upper edge a in whichthe upper edge of the hole 50 is adapted to drop when the push rod is inits inward locking posit ion. The plate is pres ed downwardly by asuitable spring 52 carried by the support 44 and engaging a lug 49 ofnotch 51. q

.bolt 40, so

shaft and raise the locking bars to lock the locking plate, and theplate is adapted to be lifted against the action of this spring by thekey-operated cam 16 which bears against this lug, shown in 1?. l l henthe push rod 22 in its forward position, that is the drawer-releasingposition, the locking plate 47 will be held elevated by engagement or"the uper edge of its slot 50 with the top edge of the push rod. ll hentl e push rod is moved inwar ly for locking the drawers, the lockingplate el-T will be lowered by its s1 ring 52 with the upper edge of thehole 50 engaging in the slot 51 in the -oush rod, therei by locking thelatter, and the drawer-locking parts connected therewith.

The belt d0 for the cover is also r to release the cover through themedium or this same locking plate l7. For his ourpose, a lever 53 ispivoted on a stud 51: projecting forwardly from the back ot the support4% through an elou; e he plate 47. A stud 55 fixed to the a J xtendsinto a slot in the lever I ant. the upper portion of the lever isprovided b op ing 57 into which projects a that when th locku raised byer draws the bolt d0 inwardl 7. A suitable spring 59, engagi -g stud 58moves the bolt 40 to locl i i this is permitted by the dcwnw r or thelocking plate 4'7. The bolt elled upper edge, so that ii are covt whenthe bolt 4.0 is pro 'ected, or ii position, the bolt wi l be forced has.cover and will then be th *ust into locking engement with the cover byspring 59. The opening 57 in the lever is shaped to permit this movementof the belt independently of the lever and the lock 9; plate l? when thelatter are in locl'ed posit on, so that the cover can be closed andlocked without requiring the actuation of the lock by met ns oi? thekey.

The locking mechanism hereindescribed is simple and composel of fewparts of simple construction, adapted to be readily and quickly mace andassembled, and the construction is such that the mechanism can beoperated with ease to lock the drawers, simply by pushing inwardly onthe front end of the push rod 22 and to release or unlock the drawers byinserting and turning the key in the lock Q3. The push rod is directlypivoted to an arm on the rock shaft 20, which in turn is pivotallyconnected by rock arms with the vertical keeper or locking bars 25, sothat very little eliort is requiree to move the push rod inwardly torock the the drawers, and inasmuch as the weight of the verticallymovable locking bars supplemented by the light spring 23 tends to movethe parts to releasing oosition, very little cflort is required tounlock the drawers, and

the key can be easily turned for this pur pose. As thus indicated, themechanism can be operated with ease both to lock and release thedrawers, and nevertheless the construction is such that proper lockingof the drawers or elements is insured, and the simplicity of themechanism and the direct connection of the parts insures that themechanism will not readily get out of order.

The push rod 22 can be omitted, and if desired, one of the drawersutilized in its stead to operate the mechanism to lock the drawers. Thiscan be done, as shown in Fig. 1*, simply by fixing to one of thedrawers, for instance, the top drawer in the right hand pedestal, arearwardly projecting bar or member 60 having a cam or bevelled endadapted, when the drawer is shoved into its closed position to enter aslot in the companion locking bar 25 and liftthe bar to lockin position.In such case, the drawer which operates the locking bar is provided witha lock of any suitable kind for looking it when shut. This drawer mustbe unlocked to open it, and the opening of the drawer permits thelocking mechanism to act as when the push rod 22 is released, to unlockthe other drawers.

'1 he invention is illustrated in Figs. 16 to 18 applied to a roll topdesk, in which construction the roll curtain is used to actuate thelocking members 25 and rock shaft 20. For this purpose, one of thelocking members 25 (the right hand one in Fig. 1G) is provided with arearwardly extending bracket arm 62 secured thereto, and which isadapted to project into the path or the heel: edge portion of the rollcurtain. When the curtain is moved to its open position, its rear edge63 passesdownwardly in guides (not shown) in rear of the drawers 6%: inthe pedestals a b of the desk (portions only of which are shown),engaging the bracket 62 and depressing the adjacent locking member 25,see Fig. 1'7, so as to disconnect the same from the drawer latches 33and permit the drawers to be withdrawn. hen, however, the rear edge 63of the roll curtain moves upwardly away from the bracket 62 in theclosing movement of the curtain, a tension spring 65 connected to thebracket 62, or other partof the locking member, and to a fixed part ofthe desk, such as the bracket or plate 26, pulls the locking memberupwardly into locking engagement with the latches 33 and prevents thedrawer from bewithdrawn. Thus, it will be seen that the curtain 63constitutes the operating member tor actuating one locking member 25 byengaging the bracket 62, and through this member 25, rocks the shaft 20,thus actuating the other locking member 25 in the left hand pedestal.The desk, of course, is provided with the usual lock for locking thecurtain all the drawers are locked by the locking mechanism, as in theother constructions. If desired, all of the locking members could beprovided with bracket arms 62 for direct actuation of these members bythe roll curtain.

We claim as our invention 1. In a locking mechanism, the combiuation ofa rock shaft, means for rocking the same, a rock arm secured to saidshaft, and a locking member actuated by said rock arm, said arm having abifurcated portion straddling said shaft and having a driving lit inopposed transverse segmental slots in said shaft whereby said rock armis rigidly secured to said shaft and prevented from turning or endwisemovement relative to said shaft.

2. In a locking mechanism, the combination of a rock shaft, a lockingmember actuated thereby, means for rocking said shaft including'a rockarm secured to said shaft, said arm having a bifurcated portion forminga slot with parallel inner side edges, and which straddles said shaftand fits in opposed transverse segmental slots in said shaft, said slotshaving parallel bottom walls against which said slot walls bear tightlywhereby said rock arm is rigidly secured to said shaft and preventedfrom turning or endwise movement relative to said shaft without the useof fastening devices.

3. The combination with a plurality of drawers or elements to be lockedarranged to move in different vertical planes disposed laterallyrelatively to each other, of locking mechanism therefor comprising ahorizontal rock shaft extending transversely of said vertical planes, avertically movable locking member actuated by said rock shaft forlocking one of said elements, a push rod for rocking said shaft, atransverse horizontally,

slidable locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to andtransversely of said push rod, a lock for said push rod, and mechanismcontrolled by said lock for releasing both said push rod and said bolt.

l. The combination with a plurality of drawers or elements to be locked,of locking mechanism for one of said elements including an operatingpush rod, a transversely movable sliding locking bolt for anotherelement arranged adjacent to said push rod to move transversely thereof,a vertically movable locking plate arranged parallel with said bolt toengage said push rod to lock the same, a vertically swinging plate torelease said push rod, and means also actuated by said lock forreleasing said bolt.

5. A plurality of elements arranged in a vertical tier, and lockingmechanism for said elements including a rock shaft, latches on saidelements, a vertical locking bar operatively connected to said rockshaft and which is movable up and down to engage or release said latchesby rocking said shaft in opposite directions, and an operating push rodfor rocking said shaft in combination with another element disposedlaterally relativel to said tier of elements, a transverse, sli ing lockbolt for said other element located adjacent said push rod, and a lockcontrolled mechanism which locks said push rod and is actuated by theoperation of said lock to rele said push rod and move said bolt toresaid other element.

6. The combination with an element to be locked, and locking mechanismtherefor, ineluding an operating push rod, and a lock for locking saidpush rod to hold said locking mechanism in locking element, a transversehorizontally sliding locking bolt for the same arranged adjacent saidpush rod and which is adapted to enter an opening in said element and isactuated by said lock to release said element when said lock is operatedto release said push rod.

7. Thecombination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of lockingmechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, alock, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said pushrod g to move transversely thereof, a locking plate arranged parallelwith said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, an arm on saidlock engageable with said locking plate to release said push rod, andmeans also actuated by said arm for releasing said bolt.

8. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of lockingmechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, alook, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said pushrod to move transversely thereof, a locking plate ar-' ranged parallelwith said bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, an armconnected with said lock to swing against said locking plate to releasesaid push. rod when said lock is operated, and a pivoted lever alsoactuated by movement of said arm to retract said bolt to release saidother element.

9. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, of lockingmechanism for one of said elements including an operating push rod, alock, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent to said pushrod to move transversely thereof, a locking plate arranged parallel withsaid bolt to engage said push rod to lock the same, means for yieldinglyholding said locking plate in looking position, an arm on said lockengageable with said plate to move the same against the action of saidyielding holding means to release said push rod, and means also actuatedby said arm for releasmg said bolt.

10. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked, oflocking mechanism for one of said elements including an operating pushrod, a look, a locking bolt for another element arranged adjacent tosaid push rod to move transversely thereof,

position, of a seconda locking plate arranged said last mentioned 'ticaltiers disposed parallel with said bolt to engage said push rod to lockthe same, means for yieldingly holding said locking plate in lookingposition, an arm on said lock engageable with said plate to move the sme against the action of said yielding holding means to release saidpush rod, a pivoted member engageable with said bolt, means foryieldingly holding said bolt in looking position, and said bolt beingalso movable to a position to release said other element against theaction of yielding means by the movement of said arm.

11. The combination with a plurality of elements to be locked arrangedin different verlaterally relatively to each other, of locking mechanismtherefor comprising a rock shaft extending transversely of and inrear ofsaid tiers of elements, said shaft having a plurality of spaced pairs ofnotches formed therein, a rock arm fixed on said shaft for eachdifferent tier of elements, said rock arms each having a bifurcated partadapted to fit in one of said pairs of in said rock shaft, whereby saidarms can be positioned at different points on said shaft in accordancewith the spacings of different sets of tiers, a locking member connectedto each of said roci; arms, a latch connected to each of said elementsand arranged to cooperate with one of said locking members for lockingsaid elements, said latches being engaged and released respectively byupward and downward movements of said locking members, an operatingmember for rocking said rock shaft to lock said elements, and a lock forsaid operating member.

12. A locking mechanism including a rock shaft and a rock arm, saidshaft having transverse opposed segmental slots therein and said armhaving a bifurcated portion which straddles said rock shaft and fitstightly in 7 said slots so as to prevent turning and endwise movementsof said arm relatively to said shaft, and the interfitt-ing of saidinterengaging parts of said arm and shaft also pre venting thedisconnection of saidarm from said shaft.

GEORGE ANDERSON.

VICTOR A. GRONBERG.

notches

